Badgers on the Hunt

Celebrating a Badger score.    10/31/2015   dwm photo

The Wisconsin Badgers have never started a football season with 11 straight wins.  They had never started one with 10 straight wins either, until last week's victory.

It's exciting stuff, but the team is still several steps from their ultimate goal.

First, and most important, is the game in Minneapolis this Saturday against the Minnesota Golden Gophers and keeping hold of Paul Bunyan's Axe with a win.

Second, defeat the B1G East Division Champs in the B1G Title Game on December 2 in Indianapolis.

Do those two things and Wisconsin will likely get the opportunity to play for the National Championship.  Which takes two more wins, in the semi-final game New Year's Day and the Championship game one week later.

It's too much to think about, and thankfully Badger coach Paul Chryst has his team in "one game at a time" mode.  Lose to Minnesota or the B1G Title game and Wisconsin will go to another Bowl game.

It is exciting for this Badger fan.  Heck, the season has been a remarkable ride and the win over Michigan emblematic of the whole season.  A rock-solid defense paved the way to a win and the offense did enough against a tenacious Wolverine D to get points on the board. 

During the later part of the first half and the part of the 3rd Quarter, it seemed to me the game was getting away from the Badgers.  A Wisconsin interception in their territory put Michigan in good position to score, but the defense held them to a field goal and a 10 - 7 lead.

The next time the Badgers have the ball quarterback Alex Hornibrook unleashes a 51 completion and then an 11 yard pass to AJ Taylor as Wisconsin reclaims the lead for good, 14 - 7, on the way to a 24 - 10 victory.

It was an impressive win from where I sat on my couch.  This team has risen above adversity several times this season and hung in games to grind out victories when it seemed they were out of it. 

The Badgers have also done a good job in playing the team in front of them.  That's vital this week.  After a big win over Michigan and Ohio State waiting in the next, it would be easy to overlook the pesky Gophers.  Coach Chryst has kept the players' eyes on the prize - and they need to do it again Saturday.

One way he does it through a phrase he learned from his father, who played and coached college football, it's simple and true:  "Have Fun. Play the Game."  Go Badgers!